Apparatus for bursting a continuous multiform set of sheets



June 10, 1952 E. s. WRIGHT APPARATUS FOR BURSTING A CONTINUOUS MULTIFORM SET OF SHEETS Filed June 23, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. Shmleg lUriqhf June 10, 1952 E. s. WRIGHT APPARATUS FOR BURSTING A CONTINUOUS MULTIFORM SET OF SHEETS Filed June 23, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zhmen tor 8 Stanle LJ wri qh c ttorueg June 10, 1952 2,600,042

E. S. WRIGHT APPARATUS FOR BURSTING A CONTINUOUS MULTIFORM SET OF SHEETS Filed June 25, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Enbentor Efiianleg [Uriqhi' By Gttorneg June 10, 1952 WR|GHT 2,600,042

. APPARATUS FOR BURSTING A CONTINUOUS MULTIFORMSET OF SHEETS Filed June 23, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 .h J & Bnvcntor E. Skmleg LUriqhc 3 8V 1} 7 5 BB W G ttorneg Patented June 10, 1952 APPARATUS FOR BURSTING A CONTINUOUS MULTIFORM SET OF SHEETS Elvin Stanley Wright, Shrewsbury, Mass.

Application June 23, 1950, Serial No. 169,989

12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for severing the sections of a continuous multi-form set of sheets and separating the margins and the interleaved carbons therefrom.

Multiple form sheets for use as invoices, records and orders are customarily made as a set of long continuous record sheets interleaved with separate carbon papers. The two marginal portions have parallel series of holes for the driving sprockets of a feed mechanism. The record sheets are customarily provided with spaced perforations or indentations providing a transverse line of weakness between the records and with two lines of weakness located inside of the driving sprocket perforations, so that a set of record sheets may be separated and the two perforated margins may be removed by various manual operations. At one margin the interleaved carbons are free, whileat the other they are connected together and attached to the record sheet marginal strips, so that when the record sheet strips are severed or torn away along the adjacent line of weakness, the carbon papers which remain attached to the marginal strip may be pulled out from between the sheets and removed.

This invention relates to apparatus which will separate the sets of record sheets and remove both of the marginal feed strips and pull the interleaved carbons from their initial positions between the record sheets. One obiect of the invention is to provide an apparatus for such purposes which will accomplish mechanically that which has heretofore had to be done manually and which will operate expeditiously and efliciently.

The continuous strip of record sheets is customarily provided as a manifolded packet of zigzag folds with the sheets lying in parallelism and connected alternately at the opposite edges to the adjacent sheets. The transverse line of weakness is supposed to be located at the folding crease between the sets of record sheets, but owing to defects in the folding operation or in changes of the nature of the paper under various hygroscopic or other conditions, the sheets vary somewhat in length between the transverse creases or lines of weakness. Hence, any attempt at cutting the sheets apart by a mechanism which is set to cut a predetermined length of paper is likely to cut the papers at progressively varying distances from the transverse line of weakness.

It is a further object of this invention to provide mechanism for bursting the paper along the transverse line of weakness irrespective of its location and relation to the paper feed mechanism 2 and thus to insure that the record papers are properly separated and are the required sizes.

Another object is to separate the record sheets along the lines of weakness by a progressive tearing motion which insures that the paper is not subjected to an excessive strain and thus minimizes the liability of damage to the records.

A further object is to separate each of the perforated marginal portions by a bursting action along a pre-made marginal line.

A still further object is to provide a mechanism for feeding the multi-form to a bursting position and there tearing off that marginal strip which carries the carbon sheets while leaving them fully connected, so that they may be withdrawn as a unit from their interleaved positions.

Another object is to provide a mechanism for separating the set of record sheets from the continuous multi-form and for removing both marginal strips and the associated carbons in a proper sequence of operations. Other objects will be apparent.

In accordance with this invention I have provided apparatus for severing and bursting one set of sheets from a continuous multi-form strip and tearing off both marginal portions and pulling the interleaved carbons partly from their assembled positions.

Referring to the drawings illustrating one embodiment of this invention:

Fig. l is a plan view of the machine but with parts removed for the sake of clarity;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectionon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, which shows the paper feeding sprocket and the foot treadle for the paper clamping bar;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, which shows the ratchet for the paper feed mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the vertically movable paper clamp bar 52 and the associated members for clamping the stationary portion of the paper strip;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, which shows the clamp parts of Fig. 4 in an inoperative position;

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding with Fig. 5 showing the clamps in their paper engaging positions;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary plan view of the clamp bar 52 with the associated clamp members which hold the multiple paper strip against a swinging table during the severingoperations;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 8--8 of Fig. l, which shows the clamp members of Figs. 6 and 7 in their inoperative positions;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to that of Fig. 8 showing the clamp members held in their paper clamping positions;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional detail showin the operation of the right-hand clamp member of Fig. 9, but with the clamp pins l3 released to an inoperative, position;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional detail of the left-hand clamp mechanism, the view being taken,

on the line lil I of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional-view on the line l2l2 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a, fragmentary sectional view on the line l3--l3 of Fig. 9;

Figs. 14 to 16, inclusive, are diagrammatic views showing the operations of tearing the multiform, in which:

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view of the untorn strip;

Fig. 15 shows the first transverse tear; and

Fig. 16 shows the two operations of removing the marginal strips; and

Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic, exaggerated end view. of the assembled record sheets and interleaved'carbon papers prior to the various bursting. operations.

One standard type of continuous multi-form strip, shown in Figs. 14 and 17 in exaggerated form, comprises, for example, three folded sheets of paper I interleaved with five short carbon papers 2 which are arranged for desired typing purposes. The carbon papers 2 are glued to the paper sheets I, as indicated by the numeral 3 at the right in Fig. 17, and the three folded sheets are tacked together by adhesive 6, so that the carbon papers 2 and sheets I are connected together at-that marginal portion 5. The margin and the opposite marginal portion 6, outside of the; carbon papers, are each provided with lines of weakness, such as the dotted perforations I and 8, whereby the paper may be torn and the marginal portions separated from the main body of the multi-form. A transverse line of spaced perforations or line of weakness 9 is provided crossways of the continuous strip, sothat the different forms may be properly separated one from another.

As shown diagrammatically in Figs. 14-, 15 and 16, the continuous paper strip is fed intermittently fromvthe left in the direction of the arrow and to a desired tearing position. Then the continuous strip isheld stationary by presser feet,

such as small pointed spikes which perforate the paper near the marginal-portions but behind the tear line 9, as indicated by the dots in in Fig. 14. Similarly, the paper is gripped on its margins 5 and 6 by presser feet indicated by the dots II and I2, in F g: 14. Afurther presser foot is indicated by the spaced dots l3 which engage the paper over the carbon and between the two margins. A clamp I4, which is preferably a hack saw blade having a serrated or toothed edge, en-

gages the paper-just inside of the perforated line Band yet not over the carbon, whose free edge is indicated by the dotted line It.

The various pressers l I, i2, i3 and M. are mounted to hold the paper fixed on a swinging table pivoted as indicated at E6 in Fi 14. Provisionis made for swinging that table in the general direction of the arrow. The presser feet hold the left-hand part A of the stri stationary, while the right-hand part B clamped by the feet II to I i-moves withthe table. Hence, as shown in Fig. 15, the continuous strip is obliged to tear on the transverse line of weakness 9 and thus burst the end assembly of sheets B from the remainder A of the continuous strip.

The next step is to separate the two marginal portions 5 and 6 from the main body of the set of severed sheets B. This is preferably done in a sequenceso that the left-hand margin 6 of the sheet of Fig. 1 is first torn away, and then the right-hand margin 5, which carries the carbon papers gummed thereto, is pulled off and forced to carry the interleaved carbon sheets therewith. To effect the removal of margin 6, as indicated in the, lower right-hand portion of Fig. 16, the pressers H and i3 and particularly the saw presser foot 14- hold the central body B clamped to thetable, and the pressers l2, which engage the margin 6, are moved away from presser l4 and so tear the marginal portion 6 from the main body of the paper along the line of weakness 8. This marginal part 6 may, if desired, be left'connected to the main body of the sheet at IT, so that a hand hold may be had for ready manipulation at a later time,

To burst the margin 5 with its assembled carbon sheets from the main. body, itis first necessary to release the presser feet l3 from contact with the set of. sheets B and then to pulllaterally towards the rightin Fig; 1 (upwardly in Fig. 16) the presser feet I l which grip only the margin 5. The body of assembled sheets B is held stationary by. the saw blade it, so thatthe only movement that can result serves to tear away the margin 5 along the line i. This movement of the margin '5 away from the assembled sheets serves to pull out the interleaved. carbons, which are still secured to the margin strip 5, since the presser 14 does not holdthe carbons. After-thepresser feet'have been released, and if the carbons have not been pulled all of the way out, it is merely necessary for the operator to grasp the marginal part if still connected tothe main body of the record papers, o'rif that margin has been torn away, to grasp the margin portion of the record papers at the left (Fig. 1) or the bottom of Fig. 16, and then to finish the operation of pullin the carbon papers out from their interleaved positions and to tear off the marginal part I! and, finally, to discard both of the marginal strips and the carbons.

This series of operations is accomplished by the machine shown in Figs. 1 to 13 of the drawings. Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the machine comprises a suitable frame It carrying a table 25 mounted to swing horizontally about the pivot it and in, front of a flat frame top 21, the table 29 and the frame top 21 having their top surfaces inone plane and substantially continuous. The multiple strip is fed from a receptacle, 22, at the rear (Fig. 2) and guided by suitable guides into contact with the conical sprocket teeth, of a pair of sprocket wheels 23 engaging the marginal drive perforations 24 in the paper. The wheels are fixedly mounted on ashaft 25 supported on suitable bearing on the machine and adapted to feed the continuous paper sheets forward. The paper passes under a guide bar 28 and then across, the, flat top ill of the frame 18 and onto the table 20, serving to position the multiple strip as required. The

vertical pivot pin I6 projects upwardly from the framework l8 through a bearing hole in the table 26 and serves as a bearing for swinging the table laterally. When the table swin s, it

slides across the flat top of the inverted U- shaped frame 18.

Various types of mechanism may be employed for feeding the paper forward across the table. As illustrated, the sprocket wheels 23 have conically shaped radial teeth engaging the evenly spaced marginal perforations 24 in the paper. The shaft 25 carrying the sprockets is turned by means of a pawl and ratchet drive, as indicated in Fig. 3. This comprises a drum 30 mounted loosely on the shaft 25 and carrying a pivotally mounted pawl 3! on one side thereof which engages the teeth of a ratchet wheel 32 fixed on the shaft. A flexible tape 33 is wound around the periphery of the drum 3B, and it is pulled forward to rotate the shaft 25 by means of a slide block and handle 34 afiixed to the end of the tape and slidably mounted on a guide Way 35 carried on the rear top 2! and overhanging the table 20. A spiral spring 36 on the opposite side of the drum 30 from the pawl and ratchet drive is so secured to the drum and a fixed part of the machine frame that when the flexible tape 33 is drawn forward the spring is tightened, and when the tape is released, the spring will rotate the drum in a reverse direction as is permitted by the pawl and ratchet drive. This returns the handle 34 to a rearward position as soon as it is released, after the paper has been fed forward to the right extent for positioning beneath the clamping devices. A buffer spring 3! is suitably mounted on the slide way 35 to receive the impact of the block 34 when the tape returns to its initial position.

The presser feet I engage the continuous multi-form in the rear of the swinging table 2 3 and 50 hold that part of the paper stationary when the table is swung. The construction and the operation of these presser feet are shown particularly in Figs. 4 to 6. The paper passes beneath two pivoted plates All mounted on horizontal pivot pins 4| carried on an adjustably positioned base plate 42 held in a recess in the machine top. These plates 45 are urged up wardly to the positions shown in Fig. 5 by means of coiled compression springs 43 suitably mounted in retaining depressions in the under side of the plates Ml and the top of the plate 42. These members 40 are adapted to be clamped down against the top of the paper.

Each carries on its under side a set of pointed prongs I0 projecting into holes in the under plate 42 to which the plate 40 is pivoted. The prongs are adapted to penetrate the paper and thus lock the record sheets and their carbons securely together and hold them immovable.

The clamp plates 40 and their associated presser points II! are thrust into clamping engagement with the paper by means of rollers 54 pivotally mounted on substantially horizontal axes on angle irons 45 secured to the tops of the plates 40. The rollers 44 are positioned to be engaged by the horizontal under surfaces of angle irons 50 that are mounted on a vertically swinging bar 52. Each part is made long enough to remain in contact with its associated roller 44 when the bar 52 is swung laterally with the table 20. The bar 52 is pivoted on'a horizontal pin 53 suitably mounted on an upwardly p oje ing lug on the table 20. The bar is moved downwardly by means of a draw bar 54 pivoted at the free end of the bar 52 and pivotally connected at its lower end to a foot-operated treadle 55 (Fig. 2) suitably pivoted on thebase of the machine. The bar 52 is urged upwardly towards an inoperative position by means of a tension spring 56 suitably connected to the frame l8.

permitted by those rollers riding beneath the extensive plates 50.

The table is swung about the pivot 16 in the direction of the arrow at the bottom of Fig. l by means of a lever handle 51 pivoted centrally at 58 on a lug projecting up from the table and havin an elongated slot at its lower end fulcruming on a horizontal pin 53 (Fig. 2) fixed on the machine frame l8. By pulling forward on the handle 51, the table is swung forward about one inch. A tension spring 66 connected between the side of the table and a lug on the frame I 8 serves to return the table when released.

The multiple sheet paper is clamped against the top surface of the horizontally swinging table 20 by the various clamping devices H, l2, l3 and I4, and these are operated by the vertically swinging arm 52. To actuate the left-hand clamps I2 and M, the arm 52 is provided with an S-shaped iron part 60 (Fig. 7) which projects laterally from the bar 52 on the opposite side from the angle irons shown in Fig. 4 which force the clamping pins I0 into the stationary part A of the multi-strip. The member is located near the pivot end of the arm 52 adjacent to the margin 6 of the multiple sheet. The paper at and adjacent to the margin 6 is clamped by a multiple set of devices shown particularly in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 11, and these are operated by the'downward movement of the horizontal projection 50. That projecting S-shaped arm terminates in a pivot portion 62 (Fig-7) mounted on a pivot pin 63 which is axially aligned with the pivot 53 of the arm 52 and is suitably sup ported on an upstanding angle iron 64 carried by the swinging plate 20.

The presser foot I4 is preferably shaped as a hack saw blade having its serrated edge projecting downwardly and adapted to engage the paper just inside of the marginal line 8 as indicated in Fig. 14. The blade is fixed suitably on the lefthand side of the bar 60 and bites into the paper when the bar is in its lowermost position. This pressure is applied just off the edges of the carbon papers, so that the latter may be withdrawn from their interleaved positions while the presser I4 is still clamped against the sheets of record paper. That clamp part l4 is'intended to remain in full contact with the paper during the various operations of tearing. That is, the presser I4 holds the middle body portion of the assembled papers immovable while both of the marginal portions 5 and 6 are torn off.

The operation of tearing off the left-hand margin 6 is accomplished by means of a slide member iii having pressers or teeth [2 projecting downwardly from the under side of a hinged downwardly movable plate 12 and preferably adapted to penetrate the marginal portion 6 of the assembled paper sheets. The swinging plate 12 is pivoted at 13 on a pin carried by an upwardly projecting lug on a slide plate 10, and the latter is mounted in a slide groove within the 7 table 20. with its top surface flush with the top of the table 20, as shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 11,. A compression coiled spring 14 urges the plate 12 upwardly. A vertical hand lever 16 is pivoted at 1! on the slide plate Ill, and it is fulcrumed at 18 on a horizontal pin carried by the table 20 riding in a slot on the lever. The slide way has ample length to permit the slide plate 10 to move laterally through the short distance required to burst the margin 6 from the assembled paper units as indicated in Fig. 16. A spring 19 tends to swing the handle 16 and the slide 10 towards the right when the parts are released.

The plate 12 is held in a downwardly clamped position by means of a roller 80 (Fig. 11) carried on a pin horizontally mounted on a support 8| projecting upwardly from the swinging plate 72. This roller contacts with the underface of a plate 82 mounted on a sliding pin 83 and urged downwardly by a coiled compression spring 84 assembled between the plate 82 and the underface of the plate 66 that is carried on the swinging bar 60. When the bar 52 is moved downwardly to the position of Fig. 9, the plate 82 under its. yielding spring pressure thrusts the roller 80 downwardly and so forces the plate 1'2 to its lowermost. clamping position. This presses the prongs [2 into biting contact with the paper.

The pivoted member 12 also carries a stripper foot 86 arranged to hold down on the paper when the sharp pins l2 are withdrawn. This footBG (Fig. 11) extends substantially the width of" the slide Hi and lengthwise of the paper margin. The foot is fixed on two vertical slide rods 81- projecting' upwardly through suitable holes in the plate 12. The presser foot is urged downwardly by a pair of springs 89, so that the foot will tend to lie against the top paper face under a resilient pressure when the plate 12- is moved downwardly by manipulation of the swinging arm 52. Each spring 89 may be a coiled resilient wire secured at one end in a hole in the rod 81 and at its other end to the top of the plate 12, as shown in Fig. 9.

The plate '12 also carries at its forward end a narrow press roll 90 which is arranged substantiallyv transversely of the direction of travel of the paper and so permits the plate 12 and roll 9D to be moved laterally during the margin bursting operation. That press roll is carried on a vertically swinging member 91 pivoted at 92 (Fig. 8) on the side of a lug projecting upwardly from the plate 12. A coiled compression spring 93 between the plate 66 and a head 94 on a central rod 95 urges the swinging member. and its press roll 90 downwardly by holding the head 94 pressed against the swinging member 9!. This roll aids in holding the body of the paper in position during the margin bursting operation. The press roll 90 and the saw blade teeth 14 are normally inside of the marginal tear line 8, whereas the teeth l2 and the presser foot 86 are on the marginal portion S. It will, therefore, be understood that when one strikes the handle I and moves it towards the left (Figs. 8 and 9), the marginal portion 6 is carried towards the left while the main body of the paper and the margin 5 clamped by the members H, 13 and M are held stationary. This bursts the paper along that marginal line 8.

Although a single margin clamp may be used, two devices comprising separate presser plates 12 are shown in Fig. '7 for gripping the margin 8 substantially the length of the sheet. These are arranged at an angle, as shown, so as to tear the 8 paper progressively. They may be so located that, as shown at the bottom right-hand portion of Fig. 16, a piece I! of the margin is left unsevered, so that this may be readily grasped by the hand for separating the carbons.

The movable margin clamp construction for bursting the carbon secured margin 5 is shown primarily the right-hand sides of Figs. 7, 8 and 9 and in Figs. 10, 12 and 13. In this construction, another vertically swinging clamp plate Hill is pivotally hinged at lfil on a lower supporting slide member 32, which is mounted in a recess in the table support so that its top face is flush with the top of the swinging table 20 and the top of the slide member 10 at the left. That member N32 is similarly arranged to be moved towards the right by a lever I04 passing through elongated slots 105 in the plates and N2 and fulcrumed on a horizontal pin 1 B5 on the base [8. The slots provide for lost motion on the lever I04 so that it does not move the clamp laterally until the lever strikes the right-hand end of the slot.

The clamp plate lllii carries both of the sets of pins H and I3. The pins H project downwardly from the under side of the hinged plate and into suitably arranged holes I91 in the slide I02, similar to the parts !2 and 76 of Fig. 11 and as shown in Fig. 13. Hence, when the plate Hill is pressed down, the pins H pass through the paper strips. A set of presser feet i88 connected to a plate 599 ride in vertical holes through the top plate Hi8, and these are urged downwardly by leaf springs H0 mounted on the plate I30 so that they serve to strip the paper from the points H when the latter are moved upwardly.

The hinged plate Hill is swung downwardly by means of a flange H3 (Fig. 12) depending from a bar H t (Fig. 7) which projects laterally from the swinging bar 52 and in the direction of paper movement. To this end, a roller H5 is mounted on a horizontal pivot pin H6 (Fig. 12) carried by an upright on the plate mil. That roller is held down and remains always. in contact with the flange H3 during manipulation of the slide Hit, so that the pins ll remain clamped against the margin 5 of the paper. A spring H1 mounted in depressions in the plates I51) and IE2 urges the plate lBil upwardly. (Fig, 8.)

It is desired to hold the main body B of the paper clamped, as well 'as the marginal portion 5. during the procedure of bursting the left-hand marginal strip 6. To this end, the presser feet l3 of Figs. l4, l5 and 16 are provided as downwardly projecting sharp pins (Figs, 10 and 12) carried by the hinged plate "ill but movable relative thereto. The plate 128 is urged upwardly by compression helical springs i222 mounted on posts I23 which pass loosely through the plate l20 and are provided with. heads and serve to guide and limit the movement of the plate and its pins 13. The pins [3 are releasably thrust into the paper body B apart from the marginal strip 5 by means of a swinging arm I38 having a roller I31 suitably mounted on a horizontal pivot I32 carried by an upstanding part of the arm I35 and adapted to engage the under side of the narrow plate H4 at one side of the flange I 3. The arm I30 is pivoted on the side of the vertical lever I64, and it is urged upwardly by a tension spring l34 connected therebetween. The under side of this lever (30 engages a block I35 projecting upwardly from the plate I20. Hence, when the bar 52 with its arm H4 is moved downwardly by the foot treadle, both the rollers I 15 and I3! will be thrust downwardly and force all of the pins H and I3 into a clamping engagement with both the margin 5 and the cen tral portion of the paper. This double engagement with the paper and the margin 5 insures that the records are held securely on the swinging table at the time when the other margin 5 is burst. It is, however, necessary to release pins I3 from contact with the paper before the margin 5 is burst, since otherwise this would tear the body of the paper.

In order to burst the margin 5 from the record sheets, it is merely necessary to give a quick thrust towards the right to the lever I04, and this carries the slide I02 and its clamp plate I towards the right and thus the various clamping parts I I are moved. To release the pins I3, a lost motion connection is provided by the elongated slot I in the plate I02 so that the lever I04 may move far enough towards the right before it moves the'slide so as to remove the roll I3I from under the arm II4. When the roll I3I leaves contact with the arm H4, the arm I30 flies upwardly under the impulse of its spring I34 and so releases the upwardly urged clamping points I3 from engagement with the main body of the paper. This leaves only the margin 5 clamped by the pins I I. Hence, further motion towards the right of the lever I04 moves the plate I00 and pins II and so forces the margin 5 to the right. That margin is thus burst from the main body of the paper, which is still clamped by the saw blade I4. The roller II5 does not move out of contact with the lug H3, but the roll I3I is initially located close to the edge of the plate I I4 so that a slight movement of lever I04 pulls the roll off the plate edge. The carbon papers are carried to the right with that margin 5, since the blade I4 does not hold them and thus they are separated to some extent from the record papers. Thereafter the operator lets up on the foot treadle and releases all of the clamp parts from engagement with the margins and the main body of the paper and so permits further treatment of the paper parts.

Theoperation of the apparatus will be apparent in View of the above disclosure. The continuous multi-strip of record papers with their interleaved carbons is initially placed in the receptacle 22, and the first set of sheets has its driving holes properly mounted on the sprocket points of the two wheels 23. The first set of papers is located manually in the required position for the bursting operation, but thereafter the strips are fed mechanically by pulling forward on the handle 34 (Fig. 1). A suitable stop may be provided to limit the forward movement of the handle and thus insure feeding the paper sets through the same distance each time. There is, however, no critical distance of feeding, as would be required if a knife were used to sever the papers transversely, since the strips will burst along the transverse line of weakness 9, provided that line is located between the first set of presser teeth I0 over the stationary machine top 2I and the various sets of teeth II, I2, I3 and I4 which hold the paper on the swinging table 20. After the paper has been fed to the required position, the operator presses down on the foot treadle 55 and holds all of the parts clamped during the several bursting operations. The paper feed handle 34 is, of course, released and flies back to an initial position.

The first step is to burst the papers along the transverse line 9, and this is accomplished by pulling forward on the hand lever 51. This swings the table forward through a slight angle about the vertical pivot I0. The rearclamp pins I0 are held down against the paper on the stationary top 2| by the projecting plates 50 on the swinging arm 52 engaging the rollers 44 on the plate 40, and the forward clamps over the swinging plate 20 are likewise held in place by the several clamping devices II, I2, I3 and .I4 operated by the projecting arms 60 and H4. Hence, when the table is swung forward with the record strips clamped thereto, the sheets are necessarily burst along the transverse line 9.

The next step is to remove the left-hand mar-' ginal strip 6, which carries the feed sprocket holes. The clamping plate I4 is held by the arm 50 in engagement with the record papers to the right of the margin 6 and the burst line 8 but to the left of the free ends of the interleaved carbons. Also, the pins II and I3 resist any movement of the paper body B and the margin 5. The set of pins I2 on the swinging plate 12 are held in engagement with the margin 6 by'the roller riding under the resiliently urged bar 82 (Fig. 11) when the clamp bar 52 is moved down. Hence, the margin 0 and the body B are relatively moved by thrusting the slide 70 to the left. That is, a sudden thrust on the lever 15 will cause the pins I2 to move the margin 6 towards the left and thus burst it from the record strips along the line of weakness 0.

The next step is to burst away the marginal strip 5 and to pull the carbons out at least to apartial extent. As above explained, the clamp pins I3 have been engaging the body B of the paper during the previous operations; but since they are mounted on the movable slide member I02, these are first to be released from contact with the paper before the margin 5 can be separated by thrusting the lever I04 towards the right. The lost motion provided by the'slot I05 insures that before the lever can strike the end of the slot I05 and move the slide, it first pulls the roller I3I out from under the thrust plate I I4 and that roller flies up and releases the pins I3 from contact with the paper, as is caused by the upward thrust of the springs I22 (Fig. 12). The lever I04 thereafter strikes the end of the slot I05 and moves the clamp plate I00 and its associated slide towards the right and the pins I I, which are held pressed against the margin 5,- are carried to the right. Sincethe clamp bar-I4 still holds the main 'bodyof the record sheets, then the movement of the pins II necessarily bursts the margin 5 from the body B. The carbons are connected only to this strip 5; hence they are pulled towards the right and dislodged from their initial interleaved position. It is feasible to have the slide movement pull the interleaved carbons completely away, but in the construction illustrated, the margin 5 is merely burst away and the carbons are partly'removed. Then, it is merely necessary, for the operator of the machine to release the foot treadle and pull on the margin 5 and thus pull the carbon sets entirely out. If the margin 6 hasbeen left partly connected to the main body, this same operation serves to remove that margin as well. Thus, both margins are pulled away from the main body. 7 I These operations of feeding the record sheets forward and successively striking the. handles 51, I0 and I04 are accomplished rapidly and with very little effort or conscious thought on the part of the operator. The operations are positive and provide uniformly satisfactory results.

Various advantages are inherent in this construction. It Will also be understood that many estate 11 modifications may be made in the construction and that the above disclosure is intended to serve as a description of the principles of the invention and a preferred embodiment thereof without imposing limitations on the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for separating parts of a continuous multi-form having sets of connected record sheets interleaved with carbons, a marginal feeding strip and a transverse line of weakness, comprising a machine frame, a releasable clamping device thereon arranged to hold the multi-form immovable relative to the frame, a table pivotally mounted on the frame to swing forward and laterally relative to said clamping device, a clamping device carried by and arranged for securing the multi-form on the table, mechanism on the frame cooperating with said strip for feeding the multi-form progressively over the table into position with the transverse line of weakness between the clamping devices, means for operating both devices and clamping the multi-form, and means for swinging the table relative to the direction of feeding movement to burst the multi-form along said transverse line of weakness.

2. Apparatus for separating parts of a continuous multi-form having sets of carbon interleaved record sheets connected by a transverse line of weakness and a feeding strip connected to the record sheets by a marginal line of weakness comprising a machine frame, a support thereon for the sheets, fed mechanism on the frame which engages said strip and serves to move the multi-form over and position the transverse line of weakness relative to the support for bursting, a releasable clamping device carried by the frame for holding the sheets immovable on the support in the rear of the positioned transverse line, a second releasable clamping device arranged to engage the sheets in front of the positioned line which is supported by the frame for a transverse and forward movement, means for moving the second device to burst said transverse line, a third clamping device engageable with said strip in front of the positioned transverse line which is mounted for a lateral movement relative to the frame and the second clamping device, and means for moving the third device laterally while the second device engages the sheets and thereby bursting the marginal line of weakness.

3. Apparatus for separating parts of a continuous multi-form having carbon interleaved sheets provided with marginal strips and spaced transverse and marginal lines of weakness comprising a frame having a flat top, feed mechanism on the frame having a feed wheel engageable with a strip to move the multi-form over said top, a releasable rear clamp carried by the frame and arranged to secure a rear portion of the multi-form on the top and hold it stationary, a releasable clamping device in front of the rear clamp which is enga'geable with a forward portion of the multi-form, means including a movable suport for the clamping device mounted on the frame for a lateral and forward swinging movement relative to the rear clamp which is arranged to burst a transverse line of weakness, a strip engageable clamp supported by the frame and located in front of the rear clamp which is opposed laterally to said clamping device, and a mount carried by the frame which is arranged for moving the strip engageable clamp'iaterallyrelatlve to the clamp- 12 mg device and bursting a marginal line of weakness.

4. Apparatus for separating parts of a continuous multi-form having sets of record sheets connected at transverse lines of weakness, marginal feeding strips connected to the sheets at parallel marginal lines of weakness and short interleaved carbons connected to one marginal strip and spaced from the other, comprising a frame, a support thereon for said sheets, driving mechanism on the frame cooperating with said strip to feed the multi-form forward over the support to locate the transverse line at approximately a bursting position, a releasable clamp on the frame which is engageable with the multi-form at the rear of the positioned line, laterally separable and releasable clamping devices associated with said support in front of said line which respectively engage the marginal strips, means for moving said devices relative to the rear clamp to burst the transverse line of weakness, and means for separating said devices relatively and bursting a marginal line of weakness.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 comprising a clamp cooperating with the support and releasably engageable with the multi-form between the strips but outside of the free ends of the carbons which positions the multi-form and holds its central portion stationary on the support during the bursting of both marginal lines of weakness. I

6. Apparatus for separating parts of a continuous multi-form having sets of connected record sheets, two marginal feeding strips connected to the sheets at parallel marginal lines of weakness and short interleaved carbons connected to one strip and spaced from the other, comprising a machine frame, a support thereon for the sheets, mechanism on the frame including a feed wheel engageable with a marginal strip to feed the multi-form over the support, two releasable clamps mounted for lateral movement relative to the support which are respectively engageable with the marginal strips and movable to tear them from the sheets along the marginal lines of weakness, a third releasable clamp engageable with the multi-form between the marginal strips but outside of the free ends of the carbons, said third clamp cooperating with said support to hold the sheets immovable on the support when a strip is torn away, means on the frame for forcing the clamps into holding engagement with the strips and sheets and means for moving the first two clamps laterally relative to the third so as to burst each marginal line of weakness.

'7. Apparatus according to claim 6 comprising a fourth releasable clamp engageable with the multi-form between the marginal strips and over the carbons and cooperating with the support to hold the sheets and carbons stationary when the strip spaced from the carbons is torn away, and means for initially releasing said fourth clamp and thereafter moving the clamp which engages the carbon connected marginal strip to burst the adjacent line of weakness, so that the carbons may be drawn from their initial interleaved positions.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 for bursting a multi-form having both marginal and transverse lines of weakness, comprising a. fourth releasable clamp engageable with the multiform at the rear of the other clamps and the transverse line, a forwardly and-laterally movable support carrying the first three clamps and the multi-form held thereby, and means for moving the support relative to the fourth clamp and bursting the transverse line of weakness.

9. Apparatus for separating parts of a continuous multi-form having sets of paper record sheets connected at transverse lines of weakness two marginal feeding strips connected to the sheets at lines of weakness and interleaved carbons connected to one strip and spaced from la) the other, comprising a frame having a flat top, a table forming a continuation of the top which is pivotally mounted on the frame to swing forward and laterally relative to said top, feed mechanism including a feed wheel engaging a marginal strip to feed the multi-form forward over the top and table and position the' transverse line of weakness substantially at the rear of the table, a releasable clamp for holding the multi-form at the rear of the transverse line immovable relative to the top, a releasable clamp cooperating with the table to hold immovable relative to the table that portion of the sheets which is located between the strips but outside of the carbons and forward of said transverse line, two releasable margin clamps, slidable mounts on the table for the margin clamps which provide for clamping the strips forward of the transverse line and for lateral movement thereof, means including a .1

movable clamp operating member carried by the frame which holds the clamps set during the swinging movement of the table, means for swinging the table to burst the transverse line 14 of weakness, and means for causing lateral movement of each margin clamp to burst the adjacent marginal line of weakness.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 comprising a releasable clamp engageable with the multi-form to secure the carbon interleaved portion on the table and means for initially releasing the clamp and thereafter moving the carbon connected strip laterally to burst the adjacent line of weakness.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which a clamp comprises pointed members which penetrate the paper and a resiliently urged stripper which serves to remove the paper from said j members when the clamp is released.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9 comprising manually controlled mechanism connected to the clamp operating member which insures that all of the clamps are set substantially simultaneously in engagement with the multiform.

E. STANLEY WRIGHT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: I

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,503,003 Nehring July 29, 1924.- 2,289,161 Zalkind July '1, 1942 2,355,690 'Zent Aug. 15, 1944 2,518,320 Holman Aug. 8, 1950 

